Hiking Up To The Edge Of The Faroe Islands: Lake Sørvágsvatn

Our day begins early. The weather forecast tells us that it is about the rain around 12 O’clock, so with a 2,5 hour hike ahead of us we rush into our hiking outfits, our hiking boots and our extra warm coats.

Our apartment is only a few meters away from the start of the hike towards lake Sørvágsvatn. We can even see the ending-point of the route from out or cosy, warm apartment, but we’ve still got a long way to walk.

A few years ago I saw a photo of lake Sørvágsvatn for myself. Since then I wanted to visit the island, to see this lake for myself. A dream that came true really fast. Faster than I expected it to come true.

For those of you who know the Faroe Islands, or have visited it already, you know exactly which lake I am talking about. For those of you who have never heard of it: you will definitely want to visit it after reading this post and seeing the pictures of it.

Lake Sørvágsvatn is one of the most photographed points of the Faroe Islands, and therefor one of the most known and most touristic things you can do on the island. The only thing you need to do is bring your hiking boots and walk up to and back the end of the lake to surround yourself with a view over the ocean, the lake that almost touches the end of the island and the high cliffs.

Minutes after leaving our apartment we arrive at the beginning of the actual hike. A hike that would last a bit longer than one hour. It’s a fairly easy route. For the complete hour we would walk directly next to the lake: no directions needed, no crazy steep hills, no fear of getting lost. It’s a perfect way to start the day.

A perfect way to start the trip. Nothing beats smelling that fresh ocean wind for the first time, and nothing beats that view, you knew you were gonna get. A view that seems to unreal to be true.

Behind us we see a big, dark could, chasing us. However, experience taught us that clouds mostly stay put around the mountains, so no need to worry for rain any time soon. So far so good.

It did rain the day before, and while the hike is fairly easy we do disappear in the mud sometimes. We try to walk on the rocks as much as possible, making sure we won’t slip in the mud or arrive at our destination with soaking wet socks, only to know we have to walk all the way back, too.

The end of the lake is getting closer and closer, in stead of seeing a lake and mountains at the horizon, we now see the ocean. For the first time since we arrived at the Faroe Islands. We spot two abandoned small houses, surrounded with geese and sheep, and in the far distance even two tourists – first people we see outside of their car on the island!

We arrive at the end of the cliff. My heart skips a beat when I look down, down into the depth of the ocean, seeing the wild waves hit the rocks of the island. While it still doesn’t rain the wind definitely has gotten a lot stronger. And there you stand, at the top of a meters high cliff, knowing that the wind can push you right off of it.

We aren’t there yet. We aren’t seeing the most insane view of the lake yet. When I look up there is an even higher cliff. A small, steep path to the top of that cliff, which defines the ending point of our hike: a beautiful view over the ocean, as well as lake Sørvágsvatn.

We start walking.. climbing to the top of the cliff. With every step we take the wind gets stronger and stronger, hitting me in the face. It get’s quite scary to walk up a cliff, at the edge of it, with such strong winds. But then.. I see the view. A crazy sight, which looks photoshopped – even in real life. It’s beautiful, and the Faroe Islands just have become very real to me.

The one thing that was on top of my bucket list for years, has finally been crossed off.

You know, once you stand there, that it’s a once in a lifetime experience. I will probably never see this view in my life again. It’s hard to say goodbye knowing this.

I take as many pictures as I possibly can. From every corner, from every perspective I try to photograph lake Sørvágsvatn. Hoping I can remember it vividly this way. Hoping that I will never forget what I see now, this absurd, astonishing view.

I am not sure I understand the photos ? Is this a lake of non salted water ? Is there a possibility that if the sea keeps eroding the wall the water from the lake will spill over to the ocean ? If somebody could answer these questions for me I would be gratefull.

This is a normal lake, but it is extremely close to the end of a cliff. There is a small waterfall from this lake going directly into the ocean but because it rains a lot all the water from the mountains keeps the lake ‘filled’!